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DaVinci Resolve Tutorials / Video Editing

How to Animate In DaVinci Resolve

Animate in davinci resolve
Published 11 May 2021

Last updated on 14 May 2022

Like in any other video editing or compositing software, you can animate in DaVinci Resolve with ease. In the editing tab, you can animate almost any property with help from keyframes that can be placed at different moments in time and be given different values.

Resolve is more than capable to satisfy many needs when it comes to animations, you can play around with many settings for video and audio alike. For an easier workflow, I recommend checking out the Effects Library — there are many video and audio transitions and other nice presets.

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Quick Guide: How to Animate In Davinci Resolve

To animate in DaVinci Resolve, you have to follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Inside Resolve open the Edit tab.
Step 2: Select the element/video/effect you want to animate.
Step 3: Go to the Inspector window and, on any parameter, place a keyframe by pressing the diamond symbol placed on the right side of any parameter.
Step 4: Go forward or backward in time and change the value of that parameter.

Pro Tip: If you want a smoother animation, make sure to activate the easing option for any keyframe you want.

What is a keyframe?

Keyframes in davinci resolve

A keyframe stores a parameter’s information or value at a certain point in time. When the timeline’s play head cursor goes over the zone between two or more keyframes, an animation will take place. Simple, right? 

Make a Basic Animation in Davinci Resolve

If you want to create advanced and complex animations, you must first understand the basics. To make a basic animation, you have to place at least two keyframes on an element’s parameter. The more parameters you place keyframes on, the more complex the animation becomes. Now that this has been clarified, let us jump right into it!

Step 1 – Go to the Edit tab

To make a basic animation in DaVinci Resolve, go to the Edit tab and from the timeline, select the element you want to animate (you can pretty much animate everything like effects, scale, position and much more). Move your eyes to the top right corner, to the Inspector window. Here you have access to that element’s video and audio options or parameters.

Inspector windows in dainci resolve

Step 2 – Place the play marker at the starting point and create the first keyframe

For this article, I will make a simple animation on the zoom parameter — you can apply the same principle for any type of animation.

In the timeline, choose the starting point of the animation, and press the diamond symbol on the right side of the zoom parameter —  this action will create a keyframe at that given time. 

Animate in davinci resolve


Step 3 – Place the play marker at the ending point and create the next keyframe

Now choose the ending point of the animation and press again on the diamond symbol. This action will palace another keyframe. In my example, I made a stamp-like or fly-in animation and for this, I increased the zoom value for the first keyframe.

Step 4 – Open the keyframe tab in the timeline

Select the video in the timeline and then select the icon that the red arrow is pointing to in the image below. This will open up the keyframe timeline. Here you can move and edit the keyframes easily.

Select keyframe dropdown

Depending on which effect or element you have added the animation to, you can select them by clicking the drop-down button in the image below. This will open up a list of effects you have added any animation. Tick the box of the one you want to open.

Select keyframe effect

Basic animation video walkthrough

In the following video, you will see how I made this animation. I also added a rotation effect and showed how to see the keyframes in the timeline.

And this is it! This is how you make a basic animation in DaVinci Resolve. 

How to Make Smooth Ease Keyframes

You can change the motion of the animation with the easing option. Right-click on any keyframe and change it from linear to ease in or out. This will make the motion slow down from or to that specific keyframe.

Ease animation in davinci resolve

Summary

Cool! These are the basics to animate in DaVinci Resolve — use them to create more complex animations! Feel free to get creative and come up with your own ideas of animations — now you have the tools!

About Author

After spending 6 years in the post-production studio, Mihai decided to share his insights on video editing and computers.